Unlike copyright, patents can block independent creations. Software patents can render software copyright useless. One copyrighted work can be covered by hundreds of patents of which the author doesn't even know but for whose infringement he and his users can be sued. Some of these patents may be impossible to work around, because they are broad or because they are part of communication standards.

The countries explicitely listed in this form are all members of associated members of the European Union or the European Patent Convention because important decisions will be taken in Europe in the next 6 months. However, we truly welcome support and signatures from other regions in the World.